Jobs@PLoS

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit advocacy and publishing organization located in the China Basin area of San Francisco, California. We publish a growing collection of Open Access scientific and medical journals whose complete contents are freely available online. Our long-term goals are to create an online "public library of science" containing every scientific and medical paper ever published, and to develop the information technologies needed to maximize the value of this resource. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

The Public Library of Science and its publications continue to expand. Currently, we are seeking talented candidates for the following positions:

Agile Quality Engineer

Description

Unique opportunity for manually testing a cutting-edge Web 2.0 application and a hands-on implementation of black-box and white-box automation frameworks in an Agile quality engineering program.

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

The PLoS team comprises editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In less than five years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Responsibilities

In your role as Agile Quality Engineer you will work within a Scrum software development process to deliver significant value by using Selenium to implement black-box functional testing and TestNG to implement white-box unit testing of a cutting edge Java web 2.0 application. You must be comfortable with the initial manual testing of new features to gain the understanding to correctly design and implement the automation afterwards. The ideal candidate has experience leveraging junior QA resources to write test automation, and working with testing resources and stakeholders outside of engineering to develop QA processes and execute full QC life cycles for software product releases.

Possible future career growth opportunity for the right candidate. This position will involve some Builds/Release Engineering work within 6 months to one year of hire. For the truly exceptional candidate opportunities in Web Engineering a cutting-edge Web 2.0 Application may be available with the appropriate experience.

Required Skills/Experience

  • At least 2+ years experience in SQA, both black and white box
  • 2+ years experience working with web application systems, including web servers, application servers, and database servers
  • 1+ year experience with Selenium or equivalent
  • 1+ year experience coding in Java
  • 1+ year experience writing unit tests in Junit, TestNG or equivalent
  • 1+ year experience with Linux
  • 1+ year experience working in an Agile software development methodology, Scrum or XP
  • Experience in short release cycles, the full software life-cycle, and have worked on a product that was actually released for public consumption

Desired Skills

  • Solid knowledge of HTML, JavaScript, Java and XML/SOAP
  • Experience in cross browser compatibility testing
  • Experience with load testing tools preferably JMeter or Grinder
  • Experience assigning tasks to junior QA engineers / Interns
  • Working with non-engineering resources to execute Acceptance Testing of User Stories
  • Defining QA work flows and organizational processes for Internet startups or software product development companies

Application Procedure

If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Agile Quality Engineer" as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/. PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program.

Product Manager

Job Summary

Join a small, elite team that is changing the face of scientific research. As Product Manager, you will manage the online presence for our journals, including the plos.org site, coordinate our overall product strategy, and provide day to day management of product priorities.

Primary Responsibilities

  1. Manage the overall product development process to identify, assess and prioritize new products and online features.
  2. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to define needs and develop user requirements and business cases for new products and features.
  3. Evaluate industry trends and competitive offerings to help identify online feature and product gaps/opportunities.
  4. Drive features vs. schedule vs. resources tradeoff decisions and ensure that development process results in timely releases.
  5. Work with project manager to develop, maintain, and execute the project master plan; report on project status.
  6. Create the product roadmap to support goals and strategies.

Qualifications

  • At least five to eight years experience implementing and managing effective product management programs in the web and/or online media space.
  • At least three to five years experience in managing and developing people.
  • Strong collaboration skills. Ability to work cross-functionally and achieve consensus is critical.
  • Ability to work in a hands-on environment with limited resources. Experience in entrepreneurial organizations is highly desirable.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong business acumen. MBA and technical background a plus.
  • Excellent organizational skills including ability to build effective working relationships.
  • Experience in scientific, medical, or technical publishing preferred.

Application Procedure

Please send a resume, a cover letter and a phone number where you can be contacted to jobs@plos.org and use the job title Product Manager as the subject of your email. PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. No phone calls or visits, please.

Principals only—email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Production Editor

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of more than 60, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In less than five years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Description:

We are seeking a Production Editor for our Biology and Computational Biology journals. Under minimal supervision while exercising initiative and judgment, the Production Editor is responsible for managing the timely and accurate production of peer-reviewed research articles and other matter. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Manage all phases of the production process (copyediting, formatting, proofing, validating online PDF and XML/HTML formats), ensuring journal(s) are produced in a timely and efficient manner, while maintaining high quality standards.
  • Utilize the online journal management system to facilitate the entire production process from receipt of manuscript in production through final files delivery for the Web.
  • Steer manuscripts through production workflow to ensure timely production deliveries at each phase; meet monthly productivity goals.
  • Create and maintain tracking sheets with data relevant to production of journal(s).
  • Oversee freelancer assignments.
  • Act as production liaison with other departments, outside authors and vendors to effectively communicate corrections, changes and concerns that arise throughout the production process.
  • Work closely with a team of other production editors, coordinators, and web producers, assisting co-workers with their projects.

This is a full-time position and you must be able to work on site.

Qualifications

The ability to multi-task and meet deadlines, capable of working independently, strong communication skills (oral and written), strong attention to detail, highly organized and self-motivated. The successful candidate must have strong computer skills.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2-3 years of production or related experience, strong copyediting experience in scientific journal publishing, a solid online publishing background and strong project management skills. Candidate should be proficient in Word, Excel; familiar with XML, LaTeX, EndNote, Reference Manager, ProCite and/or BibTeX.

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is an open-access publisher and advocacy organization with offices in San Francisco, California, and Cambridge, UK, whose mission is to make scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Production Editor" as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Staff Accountant

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is headquartered in San Francisco and committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of more than 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. In less than five years, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Description

We are seeking an experienced Staff Accountant to join our Accounting & Finance team. Working under minimal supervision while exercising initiative and judgment, the Staff Accountant will support all facets of the Accounting group including maintaining the general ledger; performing monthly close; overseeing AP/AR; processing receipts along with financial reporting and analysis.  In addition, this position will provide back-up for purchasing and payroll and will work on special projects. This position will report to the Assistant Controller.

This is a full time position in our San Francisco office and you must be able to work on-site.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or equivalent and a minimum of 3 years of project accounting experience or an Associate's Degree in Accounting and a minimum of 5 years of project accounting experience.
  • Analytical thinker with a good combination of accounting and finance experience.
  • Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines; ability to work independently.
  • Strong communication skills (oral and written), strong attention to detail, highly organized and self-motivated
  • Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office and common accounting software packages

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment as well as a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD and STD coverage and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title "Staff Accountant" as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only - email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

Paid MarCom Intern for PLoS.org

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a mission driven non-profit headquartered in San Francisco. It is committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of around 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in Medicine. Since 2003, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Job Description

We are seeking a Mar/Comms intern to assist with various projects and the day-to-day delivery of campaigns.The ideal candidate should be extremely online savvy, eager to learn, enjoy doing background research, writing and be able to work independently. Familiarity with e-commerce platforms, blogs, social media tools, and basic HTML or other coding languages is a plus. An interest and/or background (preferably advanced degree, PhD/MBA) in Marketing/Communications and/or Science is also helpful.

This is a 6 month, temporary, paid internship, approximately 40 hours per week, based in our friendly and pleasant San Francisco office just opposite AT & T Park in SOMA. Because of the temporary nature of the position no benefits will be provided, including no vacation and sick time allowances.

Key responsibilities

Your core project based responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

  • Working in a team to set up and launch an online store using a publicly available platform
  • Evaluating options to improve our print on demand offering and a possible Jobs site
  • Assist in the publication of revenue generating collections
  • Contributing to a project to enhance PloS.org

Other duties will include (but are not limited to):

  • Writing and disseminating campaigns about new functionality releases, site features and content using a wide variety of techniques
  • Undertaking market research which includes online surveys, e-focus groups and user groups.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter (plus examples of your online writing) to jobs@plos.org and use the job title MarCom Intern as the subject of your email. Your cover letter should describe why you think you are suited to this position and what you have to offer. Please also describe a little about your background, and any experiences or skills you have that you think make you suited to the job. The closing date for this position is June 12th 2009.

No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only – email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.

PLoS Publications Assistant

Organization Overview

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a mission-driven non-profit headquartered in San Francisco. It is committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource. PLoS publishes peer-reviewed, open-access scientific and medical journals that include original research as well as feature articles. Everything PLoS publishes is freely available to be read, downloaded, copied, and distributed.

PLoS has a team of around 80, comprising editors, scientists, technologists, and production staff. Our work environment is team-oriented and rich in innovative ideas. PLoS' distinguished board of directors is led by a Nobel Prize winner in medicine. Since 2003, we have launched several prominent scientific journals of worldwide impact.

Job Description

PLoS currently seeks an energetic and committed person for the entry-level position of Publications Assistant for its peer-reviewed community journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. This full-time position in our San Francisco office provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the changing publishing environment and contribute to a dynamic organization that is part of the free-knowledge/free-culture movement.

As a member of the editorial team, the Publications Assistant handles the fast-paced, day-to-day editorial and online production tasks required for the smooth functioning of scholarly journals.

Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include the following:

  • Assisting authors, editors, and reviewers by answering queries, uploading files, and ensuring timely submission of reviews
  • Checking quality of submitted files and finished products (PDF, XML)
  • Contacting and supporting editorial board members
  • Assisting in production tasks (checking online files, compiling journal statistics)
  • Fielding questions from journalists, scientists, and members of the public about the journal and the organization

Required Experience and Skills

  • Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
  • Organizational skills (strong ability to prioritize, multitask, and work independently)
  • Language ability (knowledge of grammar and attention to detail in proofreading)
  • Technical proficiencies (especially knowledge of databases, file types, and file conversions)
  • Graphics experience (proficiency with Adobe software, understanding of basic digital media concepts such as resolution and file types)
  • An interest in science and medicine is desirable, though not essential

Salary

$27,500, with a complete benefits package.

Closing Date

July 10, 2009. Please indicate in your cover letter your earliest available starting date.

Application Procedure

PLoS offers competitive salaries, a creative and casual work environment and a full range of comprehensive benefits, including medical; dental and vision; life, LTD, and STD coverage; and a matching 401k program. If interested, please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@plos.org and use the job title Publications Assistant SF as the subject of your email. No phone calls or visits, please. Principals only—email from recruiters will be ignored. For more information about PLoS, visit http://www.plos.org/.